By Timilehin Ajibola
“Of all the athletes from the University of Lagos, only four of us were accredited.”
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) participated in the 27th Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) competition hosted by the University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Jos, Plateau State. The 2025 games brought together athletes from 58 universities across Nigeria.
The competition, which commenced on November 6 and ended on November 16, lasted for a total of ten days.
Popularly described as a celebration of sports talent, national unity, culture, and youth empowerment, the NUGA Games featured students from federal, state, and private universities competing in various sporting activities including athletics, football, judo, tennis, boxing, scrabble, and several others.
Despite UNILAG’s consistent participation in the NUGA Games since its inception and d finishing as first runner-up in the 2022 edition—the university recorded a performance that many considered below expectations at this year’s Games. UNILAG emerged with a total of 22 medals, comprising 2 gold, 8 silver, and 12 bronze medals, finishing 29th position overall, 28 spaces behind Benson Idahosa University, which became the first private university to emerge overall champions.
In an interview with one of the University of Lagos athletes who participated in the competition, the athlete provided insight into the team’s performance, challenges faced, and the level of support received while representing the institution.
He highlighted several benefits gained from the Games, particularly the opportunities for networking, learning, and bonding among athletes from different universities across the country.
The athlete also commended the level of support provided by the University of Lagos during the competition. However, he noted that while the support was commendable, he wished it had come earlier. According to him, once the team arrived in Jos, the university’s support in various aspects was substantial.
When asked about challenges that may have affected the athletes’ performance, he identified accreditation issues as the major setback faced by the team. According to him, this issue played a significant role in the university’s overall performance.
“Of all the athletes from the University of Lagos, only four of us were accredited,” he said, citing his sport as an example. He explained that only four athletes were accredited out of the numerous athletes prepared for the competition.
Speaking on improvements ahead of future NUGA competitions, the athlete stated that while UNILAG is performing relatively well compared to some other universities, there is still room for improvement. He stressed the need for the university to take sports and athlete development more seriously, particularly in the area of training.
He added that preparations for the Games should not begin just two weeks before the competition, noting that earlier and more structured training would significantly improve performance.
He concluded by stating that the team performed to the best of their abilities, despite not finishing among the top twenty overall.
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